KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 — A former director of a taxi services company was jailed seven months and ordered to be whipped three times by the Sessions Court here today after he was found guilty of committing criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM1.5 million of the company's money, five years ago.

Judge SM Komathy Suppiah handed down the sentence to Datuk Ab Malik Ab Rahim, 50, after finding the defence failed to raise any reasonable doubts in the prosecution's case.

The court, however, allowed a stay of the sentence pending appeal to the High Court but maintained bail at RM80,000 in two sureties and with additional conditions, that the accused was to report himself to the nearest police station once a month and that he surrender his passport to the court.

In her judgement, Komathy said Ab Malik's testimony in his defence was just mere denial and in fact contradicted that of his wife, who was also a director of the company and testified for the defence.

Ab Malik, who was appointed as an agent for taxi services by Pempena Sdn Bhd, had committed the offence at the premises of Dalamasa Sdn Bhd, Unit B-8-6, Blok B, Tingkat 8, Megan Avenue II, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng here between April 6 2007 and May 16 2007.

He was charged under Section  409 of the Penal Code and was liable to be jailed up to 20 years and whipped and could also be fined.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Nazir Amir Johari, Lim Yoi Pheng and M.Puveneswaran while the accused was represented by lawyers Zamri Idrus and Muhammad Abd Kadir.

During mitigation, Muhammad said Ab Malik had two wives and five children aged between six months and 27 years, had no record of past offences and in fact had lost his job.

Nazir Amir, however, pressed for a heavy sentence citing the offence was a serious one and involved a large sum of money. — Bernama